Session Proposals
| Presenter Information | |
|---|---|
| Presenter Name | Karsten Longhurst |
| Presenter's Position | Director of Vocal Music Education at Oklahoma City University and Artistic Director of Canterbury Youth Voices |
| Presenter's Short Biography | Dr. Karsten Longhurst is Chair of Vocal Music Education at the Wanda L. Bass School of Music at Oklahoma City University and the Artistic Director of the Canterbury Youth Voices. He holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Choral Music from the University of Southern California with emphases in music education, arts leadership, and vocal performance. Previous degrees include a Master in Music in Choral Conducting from the University of Utah and a Bachelor of Music in Education and German from Weber State University. Prior to joining OCU and Canterbury Youth Voices, Dr. Longhurst served as the Director of Choral Music and the Assistant Director of Music Education at Northwestern Oklahoma State University. In 2022, the NWOSU Singers were a featured Honor Choir at the OkMEA State Music Educators Convention. He also taught high school and middle school for six years in Ogden, Utah, and was honored with the Teaching in Excellence award. Dr. Longhurst is active as a guest conductor, presenter, adjudicator, and performer. He currently serves as the President-Elect of the Oklahoma Choral Director’s Association and is a member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing and the National Association for Music Educators. He enjoys performing as a professional solo and ensemble tenor, having collaborated with artists such as the Rolling Stones, Barry Manilow, and Elton John, and as a guest soloist in the Salt Lake City Tabernacle. He has performed with ensembles including the Salt Lake Vocal Artists, Brevitas, and the Enid Symphony. In addition to his musical interests, Dr. Longhurst enjoys spending time with his family in the outdoors and coaching his son’s baseball team. |
| Presenter's Address | 5148 Highgarden Ave Arcadia, Oklahoma 73007 Map It |
| Presenter's Phone | (801) 645-8064 |
| Presenter's Email | Email hidden; Javascript is required. |
| Will there be additional presenters for your session? | No |
| Session Information | |
| Session Title | From Sound to Symbol: Teaching Rhythmic Literacy with Takadimi |
| Session Description | Many singers enter choir—and even progress within it—without a strong foundation in rhythmic literacy, leaving directors in need of effective tools to build these essential skills. This session explores the Takadimi rhythm system, a beat-based approach rooted in language acquisition principles. Participants will learn practical techniques for developing audiation, rhythm reading, dictation, and improvisation, with adaptable strategies for K–Collegiate, church, and adult ensembles. Applications to choral literature will be included. |
| Session Focus |
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| Is this a demonstration session? | No |
| Sponsorship | |
| Will your session be sponsored? | No |